SPIRITUAL LIFE IN BRIEF

KENTON, Ohio (AP) — The Amish in one Ohio county say they want to work with county health officials who voted to evict them from homes that don't have proper wells and outhouses.

An Amish community leader in northwest Ohio's Kenton County apologized to members of the health board Wednesday and said they are seeking a compromise. Last month, eviction notices were issued for two new homes built by the Amish because they didn't have required septic systems for their outhouses.

The Columbus Dispatch reports that the board seemed open to compromise. Board members said one builder had designed a cap for his well and has agreed to do other work to bring it to code. The board also said families can design and build their own watertight tanks for under their outhouses.

Southern Baptist website blocked on bases

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The website for the Southern Baptist Convention is blocked on some military installations.

SBC spokesman Sing Oldham said the Department of Defense has assured denomination leaders that the blockage is a random event with no malicious intent. Even so, he called the blockage "deeply disturbing."

In a statement to the media, Oldham said, "If the government has blocked any part of the sbc.net website for any purpose, that would be an unconscionable breach of trust with the American public."

Oldham said Thursday some installations can access the site while others cannot. He said the problem might involve a software issue.

Woman to be ordained by dissident group

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A former nun and theology student will defy Roman Catholic law when she is ordained as a priest this weekend.

Rosemarie Smead will be ordained by the dissident group Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests today at a Louisville church. Smead, who is 70, was raised as a devout Catholic, briefly lived as cloistered nun and has worked as a college professor.

The Courier-Journal reports it will be the first such ordination in Louisville by the Women Priests group, which has been holding those services around the world. Smead says "it's illegal, but it's valid."

Louisville Archbishop Joseph Kurtz said in a statement the ordination "stands in direct opposition to the Roman Catholic Church's teaching on the priesthood."